Kagen says he doubts state's senior drug plan will continue
(Published Monday, March 12, 2007 11:00:19 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. - It is doubtful the federal government will renew a waiver for the state's popular prescription drug plan for seniors, U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen said.
The plan, called SeniorCare, provides drugs to seniors at discounted prices and expires on June 30. The program faces an uncertain future since the federal government began offering its Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.
Kagen told a crowd at the Aging Resource Center in Green Bay that he was told by a staffer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services it's unlikely the program will be granted a waiver to continue.
SeniorCare, which enrolls more than 105,000 Wisconsin seniors, uses a mix of state and federal money. But the federal government has threatened to eliminate its funding for the program, arguing Medicare Part D makes SeniorCare unnecessary.
Gov. Jim Doyle requested a waiver extension in October. He has also requested $60 million per year to keep the program going in his new two-year budget plan. But Doyle's office has said that's not enough to operate the program without matching federal funds.
Kagen, D-Appleton, told the crowd Saturday the state's entire congressional delegation supports the extension.
Supporters say SeniorCare is easier than the federal program for seniors to navigate, saves most seniors more money on prescriptions and is more cost-effective.
"SeniorCare should be the model for an affordable prescription drug program for our nation," Kagen said. "It would be good for our health, good for business and good for our economy."
He encouraged the audience to sign petitions to appeal to President Bush to continue the program.
